Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



No. 684,678. Patented Get. 15. l90l. J. T. CUWLEY.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

[Application filed July 10, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

A Patented Oct. |5, 9o|. .1. T. COWLEY. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Application filed ma 10, 1901.)

3 sheet's sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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Patented Oct. l5, I90l. J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIG DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Application filed. July 10. 1901.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

THE wimvs PETERS co. PHOYOJXHK) vmsmunmu. o c.

UNITED STATES PATENT JAMES T. COWLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH- -TU BE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,678, dated t r 1 5, 1901.

Application filed July 10, 1901. Serial No. 7,753, (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. COWLEY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch-Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, and especially to a valve for closing the transmis sion-tube after a carrier has been inserted for despatch to the opposite end of the line.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a de'spatching and receiving terminal located at one end of the line and showing my improved valve open. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing my improved valve closed. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line X X, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The construction of the terminal and its operating parts is substantially the same as that shown in United States Letters Patent No. 657,092, issued September 4, 1900, to the Lamson Consolidated Store ServiceCompany, of Newark, New Jersey, as my assiguee, and my present invention consists in the improved valve.

When it is desired to despatch acarrier, it is inserted into the terminal A through the usual inlet and passes down through the tube A and valve-box B into the despatch-tube O, secured to the bottom plate D of the valvebox B. This tubeO is provided with a number of perforations B, through which compressed air passes to the transmission-tube for despatching the carrier. The valve E is then closed by rolling it to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2, against the valve-seat E. The valve E is provided with a series of pins E Fig. 8, which extend into suitable openings in the carriage E and is guided in said carriage as it rises and lowers, due to the ad mission or non-admission of compressed air. This carriage E is provided with rollers E", which roll along the fixed guideways E The links E, pivoted to the rollers E, are pivotally connected at E to the oppositely-arranged rocking arms E which extend upwardly and are secured fast on the shaft E", passing through the valve-box B. This valve-box is provided with a closed pocket E through which the shaft E passes, and on Said shaft and projecting into the closed pocket E is the lever F, and bearing against the lower end of this lever F is the lower end G of the forked lever G, the upper end of which is loosely mounted on the shaft G journaled in the upright supports G secured to the plate G and said lever passes down through a suitable opening in said plate G as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft G extends outwardly on one side and is provided with a handle G On this shaft G2 is secured fast the forked lever l-l, provided at its outerend with the roll 11', mounted on the jOurnal-pinI-I Between the levers G and H is located the spring G to hold said levers normally in the position shown in Fig. 1 relative to one another. In order that the valve E may be closed, as above described, the handle G se cured fast to the Shaf t G is moved and moves with it the shaft G to which the inner end of the lever H is secured, and through the medium of the Spring G and the lever G the lever F and the valve E are moved into the position Shown in Fig. 2, thereby closing communication to the transmission-tube 0. Located Within the pocket J and secured to the plate G is a plate K, provided with a hub K, within which is mounted the plnngerK provided at its upper end with a flange K against which the roll II on the lever H bears. Within the pocket J is mounted the pistonplunger L, held in its raised position, Fig. l, by the spring L and this piston-plunger L is provided with a hollow stem L to which the valve L is secured by suitable nuts L and the lower end of which is provided with suitable openings L, communicating with the pocket M in the valve-box B. The spring L tends to keep the plunger K in its npperposition. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The flange L on the stem L limits the downward movement of the piston-plungerL in the pocket J. The plunger K is provided with a series of radial openings K and with a groove K on the outer periphery of said plunger. To the plate D is secured the air-pressure-supply pipe M which communicates With the pocket M. The movement of the handle G5 and the lever H can push down the plunger K until the portsK arein alinementwith the spaces above thepiston-plunger L in the pocket J, at which time the valve E is closed to prevent airpressure escaping from the terminal except through the transmission-tube C. The air passing up from the pocket M through the valve-stem L will pass out through the ports K above the piston-plunger L, and by reason of this piston-plunger being of greater area than the area of the valve L said valve will be opened by the downward movement of the piston-plunger L and airwill be admitted into the valve-box B and thence into the transmission-tube C and will force the carrier, which has been inserted for despatching, to the opposite end of the line. Any suitable catch with cooperating mechanism may be employed to regulate and hold the plunger K in its lowered position, and when the carrier reaches the opposite end of the line such cooperating mechanism will be actuated to release the catch and allow the plunger to rise-forinstanoe, the mechanism shown in my Patent No. 657,090, dated September 4, 1900, or that disclosed in my patent above mentioned. No special mechanism is here shown, as this apparatus forms no part of the present invention. When the carrier reaches the opposite end of the line and the plunger K is released from any suitable catch, which holds it down, the spring L forces up the plunger K from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, and will thus shut off the ports K from communication above the piston-plunger L, thereby allowing the escape of air from above the piston-plunger L through the groove K when the spring L will force up the piston-plunger L and close the valve L thus cutting off compressed air from the valve-box B and transmission-tube O. The exhaust-port L allows the escape of air from the pocket J upon the downward movement of the plunger L. As soon as this air-pressu re is cut off the valve E will drop by gravity onto its carriage E and will be moved by the spring N, Fig. 3, to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 1,) when the terminal will be ready for the insertion and despatch of the next carrier, and the operation is repeated as previously described and the compressed air entering the valve-box B will raise the lever E against its seat E and close the transmission-tube, so that compressed air will enter the tube 0 and despatch the carrier. By this arrangement the tube 0 is brought farther up into the terminal, so that the carrier entering will readily pass into said tube and will not be likely to be caught in the valve-box B, as the upper end of the tube G acts as a guide for the carrier, and a further object of this improved valve is the lessening of the noise in the valve previously used in transmissiontubes.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a valve for closing such despatchtube after the insertion of a carrier andheld to its seat by compressed air, a carriage on which said valve is mounted, means for supporting said carriage in its movements, and mechanism for operating said carriage.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a valve for closing said despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier and held to its seat by compressed air, a carriage on which said valve is mounted, mechanism for moving said carriage across said despatch-tube, and a spring for returning said carriage to its normal position.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a valve for closing said despatcl1-tube after the insertion of a carrier and held to its seat by compressed air, a carriage on which said valve is mounted,

fixed guideways for supporting said carriage 9 in its movements, and mechanism for operating said carriage.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 26th day of June, A. D. 1901.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

Witnesses:

E. L. HARLOW, A. L. MESSER. 

